Current:Home > MyOregon elections officials remove people who didn’t provide proof of citizenship from voter rolls -LegacyBuild Academy
Oregon elections officials remove people who didn’t provide proof of citizenship from voter rolls
View
Date:2025-04-17 00:46:47
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon elections officials said Monday they had struck over 1,200 people from the state’s voter rolls after determining they did not provide proof of U.S. citizenship when they were registered to vote.
Of those found to be possibly ineligible, only nine people voted in elections since 2021, the Oregon Secretary of State’s office said. County clerks are working to confirm whether those people were indeed ineligible when they cast their ballots, or just hadn’t provided the required documentation when they were registered to vote, said Molly Woon, the office’s elections director.
The disclosures come amid heightened scrutiny of voter rolls nationwide, from Oregon to Arizona and Texas, as the presidential election nears. Citing an influx of immigrants in recent years at the U.S.-Mexico border, Republicans have raised concerns about the possibility that people who aren’t citizens will be voting, even though state data indicates such cases are rare.
In Oregon, for example, the nine people whose citizenship hasn’t been confirmed and who cast ballots represent a tiny fraction of the state’s 3 million registered voters. The Secretary of State’s office sent letters to 1,259 people who were improperly registered to let them know their registration had been inactivated. They will not receive a ballot for the 2024 election unless they reregister with documents proving their citizenship.
The mistake occurred in part because Oregon has allowed noncitizens to obtain driver’s licenses since 2019, and the state’s DMV automatically registers most people to vote when they obtain a license or ID. When DMV staff enter information in the computer system about someone applying for a driver’s license or state ID, they can incorrectly choose an option in a drop-down menu that codes that person as having a U.S. passport or birth certificate when they actually provided a foreign passport or birth certificate, authorities said.
The DMV has taken steps to fix the issue, elections and transportation authorities said.
It has reordered the drop-down menu in alphabetical order so that a U.S. passport isn’t the first default option. There will also be a prompt for U.S. passports asking DMV staff to confirm the document type. And if presented with a birth certificate, staff are now also required to enter the state and county of birth.
Additionally, office managers will now do a daily quality check to verify that the document entries match the document that was scanned, authorities said.
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek on Monday called for the DMV to take further steps, such as providing updated training to staff and establishing a data quality control calendar in coordination with the Secretary of State. She also called for a comprehensive report that outlines how the errors occurred, how they were corrected and how they will be prevented in the future.
Republican lawmakers in Oregon, who sent a letter to Kotek last week asking her to take steps to ensure the integrity of the state’s voter lists, have called for a public hearing on the issue.
Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade said the election in November “will not be affected by this error in any way.”
The issue has also gripped other states. Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a Republican push that could have blocked more than 41,000 Arizona voters from casting ballots in the closely contested swing state, but allowed some parts of a law to be enforced, requiring proof of citizenship.
State and federal laws prohibit people who aren’t citizens from voting in national and local elections. This includes people who are in the country with legal status — such as green-card holders, people on student visas, tourists and temporary workers — and those without legal status.
veryGood! (6)
Related
- Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
- California Isn’t Ready for a Megaflood. Or the Loss of Daniel Swain.
- The Best Earmuffs for Winter That You Didn't Know You Needed (for Extra Warmth and Style)
- 49ers' Dre Greenlaw knocked out of Super Bowl with Achilles injury after going back onto field
- Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
- Nikki Haley says president can't be someone who mocks our men and women who are trying to protect America
- Female suspect fatally shot after shooting at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church
- Oscar nominees for films from ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Barbie’ to documentary shorts gather for luncheon
- Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
- Where To Buy the Best Wedding Guest Dresses for Every Dress Code
Ranking
- Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
- Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Bask in Afterglow of Chiefs' Super Bowl Win With On-Field Kiss
- Mobileye CEO Shashua expects more autonomous vehicles on the road in 2 years as tech moves ahead
- Connecticut church pastor accused of selling meth out of rectory
- Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
- Less is more? Consumers have fewer choices as brands prune their offerings to focus on best sellers
- Chiefs' Travis Kelce packs drama into Super Bowl, from blowup with coach to late heroics
- 49ers' Dre Greenlaw knocked out of Super Bowl with Achilles injury after going back onto field
Recommendation
Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
Usher obtained marriage license with girlfriend Jennifer Goicoechea in Las Vegas before Super Bowl
Weight-loss drugs aren't a magic bullet. Lifestyle changes are key to lasting health
Cocoa prices spiked to an all-time high right before Valentine's Day
'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
Ryan Reynolds Trolls Blake Lively for Going to 2024 Super Bowl With BFF Taylor Swift
Avalanches kill skier, snowmobiler in Rockies as dangerous snow conditions persist across the West
Horoscopes Today, February 11, 2024